The curriculum review processes for Social Studies, Grades 1-6; History and Geography, Grades 7-8 and the Canadian and World Studies, Grades 9-12 began in September 2009. Preparations for the writing of revisions are underway.

The revision writing for Social Studies, History and Geography; and Canadian and World Studies (Geography, History, Civics, Law, Politics and Economics) is scheduled for July 12, 2010 to July 30, 2010, with teams working Monday to Friday each week. (Lead Writers will be responsible for coordinating a team within a specific strand or group of courses and will be required for additional days for training and follow-up including July 5-9, and August 3-6, 2010). Participants must be available for all working days of the session from 8:30 am - 4:30 pm. All writing will be done at 900 Bay Street,Toronto.

Qualifications/experience in the following areas will be considered in the selection process:

1.Demonstrated knowledge, skill and expertise in delivering quality programs based on Ministry expectations in the Social Studies, History and Geography or the Canadian and World Studies curriculum policy.

3.Demonstrated knowledge, skill and expertise in writing effective resources such as units of study and/or board/authority support materials, exemplars, course profiles, and/or Locally Developed Compulsory Courses (LDCC), based on Ministry expectations in the Social Studies, History and Geography and Canadian and World Studies curriculum policy.

4.Strength and experience with assessment and evaluation based on Ministry policy.

5.Specific expertise and experience related to any of the following: English Language Learners, Special Education, Equity and Inclusive Education, Aboriginal Education, French language ability, Environmental Education, or Student Success initiatives.

8.Support the President or Chair of the Subject or Division Association.

9.Employed in a publicly funded Ontario school board (district school board or Catholic district school board)

Writers will be required to sign a Letter of Agreement on the first day of writing. This Letter of Agreement includes terms related to ownership of materials, fees, timelines, confidentiality and conflict of interest. Specifically, regarding Confidentiality and Conflict of Interest, all materials must remain confidential until such time that the documents are released. Writers involved in the summer writing may not be involved in the writing or production of any teaching resources using information from the summer writing before the documents are released.

Writing team participants* will be paid a per diem rate of $300.00 plus expenses for meals, accommodation (for those whose home address is a minimum 200km return from Toronto), and transportation according to government guidelines (See attached).

*Lead Writers will receive $350.00 per diem plus expenses as above.

Applications are due at the Ministry from your school board or school authority by April 1, 2010. Please follow the guidelines you are given for meeting internal deadlines from your school board or school authority.

Note: The Ministry thanks all applicants, however only successful applicants will be notified of their acceptance by April 30, 2010. Other applications will remain on file.

I agree that Ministry of Education personnel may contact the above names as my references.

Signature: ____________________________________________________

Applicant’s Name: _________________________________________

Elementary applicants:

a)Check your preferred area for writing.

qPrimary Social StudiesqJunior Social Studies qIntermediate History

qIntermediate Geography

b)Identify the number of years taught for each specific grade / course, including the years for the grades you do not prefer to write:

Grade

1

Grade

2

Grade

3

Grade

4

Grade

5

Grade

6

Grade 7

History

Grade 7

Geography

Grade 8 History

Grade 8

Geography

Secondary Applicants:

a) Identify first, second and third choice for preferred area of writing.

qGeography grade___qHistorygrade___ qCivicsqEconomics qLawqPolitics

b)On the corresponding line, please indicate the number of times you have taught a particular course within the last five years. (Please include all courses, not just the ones you would prefer to write.)

List any writing teamsin which you have participated and your role on the team, where resources were written to support Ministry curriculum expectations.(Consider school, board, regional, or provincial writing.)

All Candidates: Please describe briefly your qualifications and experience outlined on page oneof this application as well as other leadership experiences related to the implementation of the current Social Studies, History and Geography; and the Canadian and World Studies curricula.

Candidates applying for Lead Writer positions: In addition to above, outline your background and suitability for this role. Note the additional dates and coordinating responsibilities required for this position.

The Ministry of Education is calling for applications for Curriculum Writers.Each Board of Education will be able to nominate people. In addition, our association will be able to nominate people. OESSTA members may submit their applications to oessta@gmail.com.Click here for the application.

The new Ontario Elementary Social Studies Teachers' Association (OESSTA) http://oessta.blogspot.com/ is conducting this survey to obtain information to share with the Ministry of Education. The results will inform the writers who will be working on the new curriculum this summer.

Please respond by March 9, 2010. Feel free to share the survey with other elementary teachers.

Roll Out Resources

Joining OESSTA

The new Ontario Elementary Social Studies Teachers' Association (OESSTA) http://oessta.blogspot.com/ is an organization of teachers and instructional leaders focused on the new Social Studies Geography & History curriculum released June 2013.

We are looking for teachers who want to participate in leadership opportunities offer professional learning sessions or supporting publishers as new resources are created.